There was a time in Glick’s life when that was not the case. She weighed almost 280 pounds six years ago and became frustrated when she only shed 40 pounds after several years of basic workouts.

“I was doing the elliptical and weight training for an hour, four to five times a week, and I felt like I wasn’t getting the results I deserved,” said Glick, owner of the Kettlebell Hot Spot Athletic Training Center in Spring Arbor.

In 2005, Glick found a personal trainer who taught her kettlebell, a cast-iron weight the size of a cannonball with a handle attached that is used for ballistic exercises combining cardiovascular, strength and flexibility training.

Since then, her life has changed.

Down about 140 pounds, Glick opened her gym at 7851 Spring Arbor Road in the summer of 2010. She leads kettlebell classes every day of the week, and twice Monday through Thursday. Glick said she prepares and designs each class differently to fit the needs and ability of those attending.

“It’s different than anything else,” Glick said. “Because it’s round and the placement of it on your hand, you can balance it and get deeper into your tissues and really work your core. Every move is cardio and weightlifting together.”

Shelby Daley of Jackson attends training sessions at the gym three times a week and said the variation is what attracted her to Glick and the program.

“I look forward to it all the time,” Daley said. “Every single workout is different, and it’s challenging.”

Daley said she started training with kettlebells in June 2010 to prepare for her December wedding. While she enjoys working out, she said she gets bored easily and wanted to find something that challenged her. Almost a year and a half later, Daley continues attending sessions guided by Glick.

“A few months after I started coming, I noticed it was easier to do normal things around my house,” Daley said. “I was painting my house at the time, and going up and down on the ladder was not killing me like it normally would have.”

Despite what Glick considers a “man sport,” mostly women attend her classes. She said men and women ranging from 10 to 70 years old try it, using kettlebells weighing up to 28 pounds.

On a recent Monday, only one man, J Trolz of Jackson, and two boys took part.

Trolz, despite being one of the older people in the room, kept up with many of his younger workout partners. He said he got into kettlebell after his sister-in-law started attending workout sessions in Glick’s basement years ago.

“It’s good cardio and core building strength,” Trolz said. “And then I really like it because it’s so diversified. The hour flies by, and I feel like I’m in good shape (because of it).”

Glick said she hopes to educate the Spring Arbor and Jackson communities about kettlebell and its benefits. Her gym has begun integrating with area schools, training the Lumen Christi High School hockey team, Western High School football team and Jackson Christian High School cross country team.

Kelsey Minder, 20, played on the soccer team during her time at Western. She dreaded workouts, but Glick, who is best friends with her mom, convinced her to try kettlebell.

“I got through it and ended up really enjoying it,” Minder said. “It’s all about fun, and this is always fun.”

Since then, Minder has become certified as a sport trainer through the World Kettlebell Club and works as an assistant trainer at Glick’s gym. The two also take part in kettlebell sport competitions, similar to Tough Man competitions with various events to prove who is the strongest. They recently won gold medals in women’s events at the International Kettlebell Fitness Foundation Championship at the Sheraton Hotel in Novi.

“Turns out, I can’t find a guy tough enough to do the job,” Glick joked. “But I have found four women,” referencing her trainers.